Polarized material inspection apparatus and system

Abstract

A polarized material inspection device that includes a light source, a first polarizing filter disposed within the optical path of the light source, a frame into which a second polarizing filter is disposed, and a support for positioning the frame such that an object may be viewed through the second polarizing filter. In the preferred embodiment, the first polarizing filter is rotatable through a ninety degree arc such that planes of polarization may be adjusted to be parallel or orthogonal to one another. The preferred embodiment also includes a light illumination assembly having a rotatably mounted linear polarizer at the polarizing output end. This light assembly is attached to a portion of the frame and may be adjusted such that the beam of light is directed to the desired portion of the surface. Within the frame is mounted a fixed linear polarizing filter of sufficient size to allow the entire illuminated surface to be viewed. The frame is mounted to an adjustable support arm that is attached to a tripod or other support to allow the apparatus to be fixed during a given procedure.

Description

[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 543,650, filed Apr. 5, 2000, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 129,645, filed Apr. 16, 1999.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and system for evaluating the surface and sub-surface properties of a surface and, in particular, to an apparatus and system for irradiating the surface with adjustable polarized light and viewing the optical reflectance through a polarizing viewer. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Light reflected from skin has two components: regular reflectance, or “glare” arising from the surface, and light backscattered from within the tissue. The regular reflectance contains the visual cues related to surface texture, whereas the backscattered component contains the cues related to pigmentation, erythema, infiltrates, vessels and other intracutaneous structures. Unlike the backscattered c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0026] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a device and system for irradiating a surface that does not cause the user to perspire.

[0028] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a device and system for irradiating a surface that eliminates the risk of a user temporarily blinding another person by inadvertently pointing the light source at the other person's eyes.

Problems solved by technology

However, none of the prior art devices or methods provide a means or method of illuminating a surface and then view either surface or subsurface reflectance at the discretion of the user.

The prior art also requires elaborate and often fixed setups to perform any type of surface analysis.

There is little teaching of portable units that would enable the imaging to be done in remote locations or manipulate the illuminator source with respect to the object being viewed.

Finally, most prior art systems are costly and, therefore, are not practical for those with limited resources.

The biased magnetic field induces a rotation of the plane of polarization of the incident projected light such that viewing the reflection through a linear polarizer will render flaws visible.

This apparatus, although providing distinct advantages over prior art systems, has certain attributes that have been seen as drawbacks in some circumstances.

First, the use of a head-mounted apparatus, often connected by wires to a power supply, has been found to restrict the movement of physicians utilizing the apparatus.

Second, the mounting of a hot lamp in close proximity to the user's head can cause the user to overheat and perspire.

Third, head mounting of the unit creates the risk of a user temporarily blinding others within the operating room by inadvertently pointing the light source at the eyes of that person.

Finally, the weight of the head-mounted apparatus can, during periods of extended wear, cause neck strain and general discomfort to the user.

This inability to coordinate the images viewed is due to the difference in the optical path of the polarized light caused by the different angular arrangement of the other viewers from the light source.

Accordingly, the Anderson apparatus has not heretofore been adapted for use with remotely mounted cameras, which have utility in the growing field of telesurgerey, nor for teaching or collaborative procedures where it is important for all present to view the same image.

Similarly, as there has heretofore been no way for a camera to view the same image as is seen by a user, there has also been no way to record and save what the user sees for future use during litigation, case review or for teaching purposes.

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